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    Coen continues to say Hunter will play both ways

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    JAC Wide Receiver #12
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    Jaguars coach Liam Coen said, “He will do it,” when asked if Travis Hunter would play offense and defense in 2026.

    Talking with Peter Schrager on his podcast, Coen almost laughed at the idea that Hunter might play exclusively on one side of the ball this year. Early offseason reports suggested Hunter might play primarily on defense after suffering a season-ending injury during his rookie season. Every subsequent report from local beats and all the quotes from the coaching staff have made it clear that Hunter remains a two-way player. Coen did note that they are still determining how much he will play on both sides of the ball, but it sounds like a part-time role on offense is the floor. Given the barrage of information suggesting Hunter will play on offense, a WR57 price tag for last year’s No. 2 overall continues to look absurdly cheap.
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  • JAC Wide Receiver #12
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    Coen talked about getting Hunter involved more on both sides of the ball, so it’s unclear how much of an uptick in offensive snaps we can expect in Week 3. Hunter has a 58 percent snap share on defense and a pitiful nine percent snap share on offense through two games. Even if he isn’t likely to hit the fantasy radar anytime soon, it would be shocking for the No. 2 overall pick to play this infrequently every week.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #12
    Hunter saw just four offensive snaps to 39 defensive snaps against the Browns. With a good wide receiver room, Hunter was not playing offense as much and his utilization overlapped with Jakobi Meyers. It’s unlikely the 23-year-old achieves much fantasy relevancy without an injury to Meyers moving forward.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #12
    Shipley leaves the light on for offensive contributions, entertaining the idea that Hunter can chip in “a few hundred yards and a few touchdowns” this season as well. That said, the early indications for Hunter’s FLEX viability in managed leagues are pretty bleak. Stash him if you wish, but understand that starting him in Week 1 against the Browns could result in zero points.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #12
    Shipley estimates that Hunter has logged fewer than 10 reps at wide receiver in team drills during that span. Shipley said, “it seems like” the Jaguars are treating Hunter like their CB1. He also still thinks “there will be games where he logs 50 percent of the offensive snaps,” though. The biggest takeaway is that Hunter has an extremely wide range of potential outcomes, and he cannot be counted on to be FLEX-viable at this time.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #7
    To be clear, Thomas is the starting X-receiver and Hunter is rotating in behind him. Hunter has also been taking more defensive snaps lately, so if he is going to maintain an offensive role, a simplified downfield role makes sense. Regarding Thomas, DiRocco adds that he “was arguably the best player on the field” during organized team activities, has had a “great” training camp and is “showing some of the toughness and ball security that seemed to be missing last season.” With all of that in mind, losing snaps in three-wide receiver sets is a bit surprising. Thomas is extremely talented, but obvious questions remain as to his usage in the upcoming season. A boom-bust WR3 season could be on the way.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #12
    It was suggested by Sports Illustrated’s John Shipley that the Jaguars could be “tipping their hand” here, as he writes “it is clear the Jaguars believe they need to devote more practice time with Hunter before Week 1 at cornerback, which could be the biggest signal yet that the majority of his snaps against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 13 will be at cornerback.” Hunter will likely still be involved in the offense — he has worked with the offense every day before this — but it is notable that there was a shift here. Hunter will likely be just a dart throw WR5/WR6 in most standard leagues this year.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #7
    That would mean Thomas is set to play on the outside at the line of scrimmage. Parker Washington will presumably play in the slot with Jakobi Meyers and Travis Hunter fighting for flanker duties. As Wolfe notes, Liam Coen learned last year that going over the middle of the field and taking hits isn’t BTJ’s thing. Instead, he will likely be tasked with winning deep and beating man coverage. Wolfe noted Liam Coen’s roots in the Rams’ offense and compared BTJ’s role to that of Brandin Cooks and Sammy Watkins when they played in LA. Cooks topped 1,200 receiving yards in his first season with the Rams but fell below 600 in his second and final season with the team. Watkins, meanwhile, played just one season in LA and was also held under 600 yards. All signs point to Washington being the team’s No. 1 receiver this year.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #12
    Hunter is working his way back from a 2025 knee injury and is expected to be a full go for the beginning of training camp, according to Wolfe. The 23-year-old is still going to play both sides of the ball, though Wolfe stated Hunter can be “unleashed” as a starter on defense and “the goal is to eventually have him play nearly all the snaps on defense in a particular game.” The Jaguars seem to like Hunter much better as a cornerback but he will still play offense with his wide receiver snaps fluctuating depending on the game. Hunter is attending meetings for both sides of the ball and will presumably practice both sides come training camp. He is expected to be healthy and ready to go by the time Jags veterans report to training camp in late July.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #12
    Ensuring the listening audience knew he was not a doctor, Coen said during a Tuesday radio interview that he’s unsure as to when Hunter, recovering from a 2025 knee injury, will be able to join live reps at Jaguars offseason practices. Noting Hunter’s bulked-up upper body, Coen said Hunter would continue to grind tape and learn offensive and defensive schemes on screen while recovering. Coen described Hunter’s injury as a “minor setback for a major comeback.” Jaguars beat writers have been adamant that Hunter will play both sides of the ball once again in 2026 after recording 28 receptions for 298 yards and a touchdown over seven games as a rookie. He would likely profile as the team’s third or fourth pass-catching option when healthy.
  • JAC Wide Receiver #12
    Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Gladstone also noted that he expects Hunter’s usage at cornerback to rise. Hunter played 324 snaps on offense last year compared to just 164 on defense. If we’re taking Gladstone at face value, the reports of Hunter’s demise at wide receiver have been greatly exaggerated. Hunter appeared to be on the precipice of a breakout before going down with a season-ending knee injury. The team talked up his abilities as a receiver days before he posted an 8-101-1 receiving line versus the Rams. Jacksonville’s crowded receiving room may prevent him from being an every-down receiver this year, but he should still hold some fantasy value in his second season.

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  • BAL Wide Receiver #7
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    Rashod Bateman caught 2-of-3 targets for 37 yards in the Ravens’ Week 3 win over the Cowboys.

    As expected, Bateman was reduced back to a lightly used WR2 with Zay Flowers back in the lineup. After going for 7-88-1 on nine targets last week against the Saints, Bateman saw just three targets in Sunday’s win, with one of those resulting in a 31-yard gain. Bateman’s 20 routes run led the Ravens’ in Sunday’s win, but he offers nothing of fantasy value as long as Flowers is in the lineup. Fantasy managers who added him after his Week 2 breakout can send him back to waivers ahead of Week 4’s game against the Titans.
  • CAR Quarterback #9
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    Panthers coach Dave Canales said Bryce Young (leg) will undergo imaging “just to make sure” on Monday.

    Canales didn’t want to get specific about Young’s status after he took a cleat to the leg, but deferred also to the idea of “other things.” It’s never incredible news to be looking down the barrel of imaging, but Young was able to return and play through the injury on Sunday and this has the feel of an “out of an abundance of concern” test for the 25-year-old quarterback.
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    Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said Jalen Thompson (hamstring) is set to miss “four-plus weeks.”

    In other words, he’s headed to injured reserve. The Cowboys safety room has been besieged by injuries this year, with Malik Hooker also missing time. They don’t have another safety on their practice squad so they may be hunting the tryout circuit on Tuesday.
  • TB Wide Receiver #11
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    ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports Jalen McMillan is having an MRI on his left knee.

    McMillan suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Vikings and did not return to the game. The 24-year-old receiver has played in two games this season but has yet to register a catch on the nine offensive snaps he has played. It’s been a rough two seasons for McMillan, who missed nearly all of last season with a serious neck injury that sidelined him until Week 15.
  • HOU Offensive Coordinator
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    Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said “nope, we’re all in this together” when asked about possibly replacing OC Nick Caley.

    Sugar, we’re going down swinging. Caley’s offense has been underwhelming so far — though not having Nico Collins for Weeks 2 and 3 hasn’t helped — and there’s a lot of pressure on this Texans offense at this time. In-season offensive coordinator replacements aren’t exactly bets to go well either way, but Caley is going to have to do a lot better over the next 14 weeks if he wants to keep his job after the end of this year.
  • CAR Cornerback #8
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    The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero reports Panthers CB Jaycee Horn (quad) is out indefinitely.

    According to Pelissero, Horn is seeking a second opinion on his injury, but a stint on the IR is “likely,” and the star corner could “miss significant time.” it’s a brutal blow to a Panthers secondary that has been among the league’s best for the first three weeks of the season. A big reason for their success has been Horn’s play. He has been targeted just 10 times thus far, allowing five receptions for 63 scoreless yards with two pass breakups, per PFF.
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    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports an MRI revealed no ligament or tendon damage to Baker Mayfield’s dislocated thumb.

    In addition to a clean report on his ligaments and tendons, the MRI also revealed no fracture. This is as good of news as the Buccaneers could have hoped for, as Mayfield’s absence is expected to be on the shorter end compared to what it could have been had the MRI revealed more damage. Head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield is looking at a minimum three-week absence, which would put him in line to return for Week 7 against the Panthers if all goes well. Rookie UDFA Jalon Daniels, who went 0-for-3 passing with an interception against the Vikings, will draw the start in the Buccaneers’ Week 4 game against the Packers.
  • NYG Quarterback #9
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    Giants acquired QB J.J. McCarthy from the Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

    The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero was the first to report the trade. McCarthy landing with John Harbaugh’s Giants feels a bit too on-the-nose given his connection with Jim Harbaugh during his days at Michigan. McCarthy was at one point competing for the Vikings’ QB1 job in camp with Kyler Murray, but was knocked all the way down to QB3 on the Vikings’ depth chart when Carson Wentz took over for Murray in Week 1 and drew the start in Week 2. Assuming Jameis Winston doesn’t suddenly exceed expectations and lead an efficient passing attack, McCarthy will probably get a shot to start at some point when he gets up to speed with the offense. McCarthy has thrown for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 10 career games while completing 57.6 percent of his passes. We’ll see if a change of scenery is all he needs to turn the corner and live up to the hype that made him the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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    Packers signed OG Mekhi Becton, formerly of the Chargers.

    Becton worked out for the Packers on Monday and signed shortly after. The veteran guard fills an immediate need for an offensive line that has been decimated by injuries as of late. Becton appeared in 14 regular-season games for the Chargers last season while playing exclusively at right guard. He earned a 35.7 PFF offensive grade while allowing 37 pressures and three sacks, and struggled to replicate the run-blocking success he had in 2024 while with the Eagles. He certainly fills a need, but time will tell if this proves to be a difference-making signing for an offensive line that has struggled out of the gate.
  • BUF Quarterback #17
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    Josh Allen completed 16-of-26 passes for 204 yards and two interceptions in the Bills’ 24-16, Week 3 win over the Chargers, adding 22 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground.

    Allen certainly wasn’t good in this one, but he wasn’t alone. The Bills turned the ball over five times, committed 10 penalties, and allowed four sacks and somehow won this game. His first interception was on a truly bad read over the middle of the field. The second was on a deep pass into coverage when Allen thought he had drawn an offside. The pass managed to hit the safety in the back and then land in his stomach when he rolled over after hitting the ground. Allen would also fumble on a sack later in the game. The Chargers did a good job of taking Allen’s scrambles away, and this entire Bills team was in disarray, so nobody was consistently open down the field. That being said, Allen’s two rushing touchdowns give him 85 for his career, which means he’s now tied with former Bill Marshawn Lynch for 17th on the NFL’s all-time list. The Bills and Allen will look to get things straightened out against the Patriots next week, and Allen will clearly be in your lineups.